Previous Steps

• 1b – Alternate leaf arrangement on stem — go to 18
  • 18a – Leaf simple — go to 19
    • 19b – Thornless — go to 22
      • 22d – All leaves lobed — go to 23
        • 23a – Pinnate ventation — go to 24
          • 24a – Leaves clustered towards stem tip. Pith is 5-angled or star-shaped — go to 25
            • 25b – Tips of lobes are rounded or blunt; no bristels at tipe of lobes — go to 27
              • 27b – Leaf base is wedge-shaped or round. White-grey and hairy beneath — go to 28

Current Step

• 28a – Narrow “waist” on most of the leaves. Hairy petiole. Single trunk — Bur Oak

• 28b – Shallow lobes, leathery. Yellow petiole and midrib — Swamp White Oak

• 28c – Deep lobes. Somewhat shrub-like, forming a thicket — Scrub Oak

Resources

• Identifying Broadleaf Flowering Trees and Shrubs, CMG GardenNotes #173
• List of trees in this key
• Glossary of Terms
• Front Range Tree Recommendation List
• Online CSU Extension publications on Tree and Shrub Selection